Engaging minds, cultivating dreams and learning everyday

I saw this at the back of the shirt of an old man walking in front of me last August 25th. It appealed to me so I stole a photo. Little did I realize that it was a very good theme for the activity which I signed up for the following day.

Few days ago, I saw the call for volunteers on the web about a Play and Catch Up project of Progressive Assistance Canada (PAC, #pacanada). I signed up.

Here is the organization's mission as stated on their website.

Working to relieve hunger and poverty, enhance educational opportunities, and promote a healthier lifestyle, PAC's Mission is to assist local Filipino Barangays in finding their path towards empowerment through sustainable development.

I gathered this Play and Catch Up project is being conducted every Sunday in a less privileged community in Balut, Tondo, Manila. It is described as follows on the volunteer website:

This program is designed for the group of learners that needs literacy enhancement the most. They come from different grade levels but they are homogenized by common limitations as identified during the diagnostic examination.

We volunteers met in a specified location where one of the PAC coordinators met us. On our way to the venue, we were briefly oriented that there are around 75 children of different ages to be taught. We were told that we also have other volunteers from Cognizant, a company which has become PAC’s partner there every other Sunday. We happened to have signed up on a Sunday that they are around.

The venue is an open floor of a barangay (community) hall and there was no table or chairs at least for the children. The children were already waiting when we arrived. I do not think there were 75 of them. I did not literally count but there could be around 50. Majority of them were wearing shirt uniform apparently given by PAC. We volunteers were asked to introduced ourselves one by one. Every time someone is done talking, the children would greet back, “Hi ate (elder sister or kuya for elder brother)” and mention the name of the volunteer with all their cheer. Hi ate Lumen! for me. ☺

After that, they were asked to group themselves accordingly. They already have the grouping of Love, Peace, Faith and Charity. I forgot the age bracket for the first three groups but it starts with six years old up to 15 years old while Charity is composed of 16-18 years old. There were only three of them in Charity so they were merged with Faith. These two groups were the ones assigned to me and my partner Sab (Isabel) who is also a first-timer with PAC.

The activity went on with an opening prayer which was led by a small girl who actively volunteered. She seemed to be just six or seven years old. The next activity was then explained to them. That is to think about “Buwan ng Wika” (Language Month) and draw something that they think would reflect the theme. They then broke into their own groups and took their respective corners in the hall. While others started to draw, each group starting with Love were told to practice proper hygiene by washing their hands first. They lined up per group to the wash room as we assisted them. They continue with their drawing as they get back with their respective group.

I thought many of the kids may not have an idea on what to draw. I am not a creative artist so I would have the same difficulty if I were in their shoes. I noticed a boy who was totally not doing anything but looks like still thinking while the others have somehow started. I asked what his idea is and he said none. I quickly searched for our map and cut-out of people holding hands and made this.

Credit to Google for the image search results.

I showed it to him and as if he understood, “language unites people in the country”. He started drawing. I know he will not finish but he still did his best of drawing the abstract people. I ended up drawing the abstract map to finish his paper.

The next activity was story telling hosted by the volunteers from Cognizant. They did a skit about the tale of why do chickens keep on scratching the ground and why is the hawk predator to chicks. For those who do not know tale and would want to, let me know in the comment section.

After the story–telling, there was dancing session and the children again broke into groups for another activity. For the young ones, they played market day while we in Faith and Charity have a separate class session about forming a short story based on the words that the facilitator gave. We helped the children form their story thru asking questions that would lead them to using the given words.

After all the activities, the determined winners of drawing and dancing were awarded then followed by the distribution of giveaways.

The children also pick their fruits by the door way on their way out.

Group photo shoot followed.

All of us volunteers with the PAC coordinators. Anyone who can find me on the photo? This photo is not from my phone. Credit to one of the PAC coordinators who took it.

As we were getting out of the village was the time I got to notice the environment. The families are living in dilapidated housing facilities. I haven’t yet entered a facility like this but I gathered that one unit is very small even for a family of three. I also gathered that the facilities were government projects with subsidized monthly amortization cost. I wonder how subsidized it was.

I also noticed aging shanties along the streets. Some are variety stores; others are carinderia (small cafe). A few are used as storage of scavenged items for trade.

It was a bit tiring but we all volunteers agree that it is a fulfilling experience with all the laughter and cheers from the children, plus the knowledge that we hope we have imparted to them. I really hope that our efforts will pave its way to help these children alleviate their family's situation.

If there is one thing I learned in that activity, it served as a reminder to stay put and keep moving no matter what life throws at us, and to be always grateful with what we have.

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